ETC FOR EDUCATION- GET IT READY: History Handouts
BERLIN CONFERENCE:
It was the second stage of the colonization of Africa.
DEFINITION: Berlin Conference was an Imperialistic meeting
summoned by the Chancellor Edward Otto Von Bismarck for the aim of dividing
Africa among the European Nations peacefully.
The conference began in 1884/1885.
Participants were:-
§
German
§
Italy
§
France
§
British
§
Portuguese
Note that USA and Denmark attended
as Observers of the meeting.
WHY WAS IT CALLED BY GERMAN?
a. German unification made it the most powerful nation in Europe after
defeating France, Denmark and Austria European balance of power was in favor
that is why she was able to command other European nations.
b. The industrialization of German; made German to in need of raw
materials badly, cheap labor and areas for the investments. Thus German wanted
the colonies from Africa and hence was able to call the conference.
c. The late coming of Germans in the process of scrambling and partition
of Africa, to enable her to acquire some colonies.
d. The hostility between France and German; made Germans to call for
the meeting for this conference so as to check on France expansion in Africa
that make her very powerful economically and military and able to revenge
Germans failure.
OBJECTIVES/AIMS OF BERLIN CONFERENCE:
i.
To
avoid military confrontation among the imperialist powers caused by the
scramble made by colonial agents.
ii.
To
abolish slave trade and slavery in Africa, This went hand in hand with the
establishment of the so called legitimate trade. This conference aimed at
emphasizing the abolition of slave trade in the Africa.
iii.
To
clear up the existing boundaries; of which was the source of the African
disputes among the European powers (Nations). E.g. British and France who
possessed indefinable areas of interest in the West Central and East Africa. It
also, aimed to define the areas of effective occupation so that no any other
country should claim the already occupied land.
iv.
Aimed
at taming the French Hostilities; after her defeat in Franco- Prussian war
of 1871 where she lost her resources regions of Alsace and Lorrain to German.
v.
To
maintain European balance of power; among the European Nation through
equalize political and economical powers.
RESOLUTION/PRINCIPLES/AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE CONFERENCE:
I.
All
Colonial Power to abolish slave trade and slavery; in their colonies and
allow free access of the colonial agents in the interior parts as to campaign
against slave trade and spread civilization.
II.
No
any power was allowed to help (collaborated); with Africa to fight against
another power.
III.
Elective
occupation should be implemented by the imperialist as a sign to claim of any
colony by the imperialist nation. The conference agreed to claim any area
would only be recognized by other European Nation if it was effective occupied
by that particular European power.
IV.
The
principle of Notification; it was agreed that a power requiring any part of
Africa was supposed to inform other powers in order to avoid misunderstanding
among the powers.
V.
Congo
basin was declared as a free state under King Leopard of Belgium and the Niger
river was Free state for navigation, to all European powers. The Belgium
King agreed to allow the European power traders and Missionaries free access to
the area.
VI.
Strong
and sophisticated military weapons were prohibited to be brought in Africa.
They allowed only light weapons to be used in Africa. This aimed to avoid
accessibility of such strong weapons to the colonized Africa.
VII.
In
case of any disputes among the European powers; they should solve it
peacefully without the use of force. So as to maintain unity, peace and
solidarity in the foreign land of Africa. Using force would weaken one European
power which can also make her to be defeated by Africans.
FACTORS CONSIDERED IN DIVIDING AFRICA CONTINENT.
§
Early
settlements of African from different countries; in some parties of Africa
which were occupied by the European powers before Berlin Conference witnessed
by the Missionaries, Traders, Explorers and Travelers for Example; Cecil Rhodes
in South Africa, John Moffat who stayed in Matebele Land about thirty years,
the Portuguese who stayed in Angola and Mozambique for long time, the
conference also considered this case by giving the territories to individual
nations in favor.
§
The early
exploration and Discoveries; Former exploration of some African region was
also another factor for a certain nation to receive the territory. For example;
Dr. Livingstone exploration in central Africa, he drew the map of Chode River
in now days Zimbambwe, thus it had to fall under the British government which
had sent him in the similar case of Carl Peter’s in Tanganyika for the Germans.
§
Treaties
signed between African and European; were also another consideration for
the determination of African continent Division among the European powers; for
example the H. Johnson made treaties with Mangi Rindi of Kilimanjaro on July,
1884 and Carl Peter’s organized more treaties in Usambara, Uzigua, Ukami and
Kilosa.
§
Influence
the development in the Region; this was another factor to determine the
division of Africa continent among the Europeans. In area which any European
powers had the investments or had the influence over it before the Berlin
conference had distributed to her. For Example; Zanzibar with the British who
had already shown interest over the island.
EFFECTS OF THE BERLIN CONFERENCE TO AFRICA
1.
It partitioned/sliced Africa among the European
nations into the Colonial possession and fixed the boundaries in their
interests. British got 27 Colonies, France got 12 and German 9 colonies and
Belgium got 2 colonies.
2.
It led to the loss of African independence to
the European Nations who established Colonial Rule. After an act of effective
occupation was passed.
3.
It led to the abolition of slave trade and the introduction
of legitimacy trade which benefited the Imperialist.
4.
It led to suffering of Africa people under
Colonial administration especially when they resisted the colonial rule many
were crushed to death. E.g. 1880’s-1890’s when France began aggressive policy
of wide spread colonization in West Africa.
5.
Divided the Ethnic African groups, into the
separated boundaries, e.g. Makonde in Mozambique and in Tanganyika, Maasai in
Kenya and Tanganyika while Luo in Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
6.
Planted the seed of the first and the second
world Wars, because the conference did not satisfy the ambitions for some of
Europeans Nations, e.g. German did not satisfy herself hence were still in need
for more colonies as to equalize with the Britain and France such this desire promoted
conflicts.
PREPARED AND WRITTEN BY TEACHER SOSPETER.
